Portable crop heater



Oct. 28, 1952 w. R. FOWLER, JR 8 PORTABLE CROP HEATER Filed Oct. 19, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 l \Q N m m IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 28, 1952 w. R. FOWLER, JR 2,615,284

PORTABLE CROP HEATEF Filed Oct. 19, 1950 2 Sl-lEETS-Sl-1EET 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1952.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,615,284 PORTABLE CROP; HEATER v William R, Fowler, Jr., Selma, Calif. .ApplicationOctober 19, 1950, Serial No. 191,058

9 Claims. (01; 47-2) This invention relates to a-portable orchard heater.

An object of my invention is to providea traveling crop heater, which provides greater flexibility of operation to predetermine the outlet temperature of the air blown from the heater and to control a primary. andsecondary air supply in addition to the products of combustion.

Features of my invention include: a combustion chamber surrounded by a iiow'of primary air supply to cool the walls of the chamber; a diffuser adjusted to determine the optimum diffusing of the products of combustion into the primary air flow and thus "determine the outlet temperature of the heated air; a secondary air supply introduced into the-air flowing from said diffuser and drawn in at a rate of flow determined by said diffuser; and a suction and blower device to further mix said air flow and to blow the heated air into the atmosphere generally laterally and at points below the'axis of the heater.

I am aware that "some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as Well as in the details of the construction thereofwithout departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the-following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations ofthe said device and parts as described in the said specification nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

With the'foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, reference is'had to the accompanyi'ng drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the'invention, wherein: v

Fig.1 is a side view of my heater. I Fig.2 is a'sectional view of my heater, the section being taken on the lines 2- 2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional side View of my heater. f

' Fig. 4 is a rear view of my heater.

In the illustrative embodiment of my inventiona generally cylindrical housing i is suitably mounted on a wheeled carriage frame 2 which latter is adapted to'gbe hooked to a tractor or truck or the like. The housing I-has a generally frusto-conicalintake end 3 and a similar exhaust end 4, which have respectively-central openings .6 and-I; f

' A generally cylindrical combustion chamber 8 is supported concentrically :withinithei housing I .nally relatively to the on radial spacing brackets 5-so that an air passage I0 surrounds the entire exterior of the combustion chamber 8. The end of the combustion chamber 8 adjacent the intake end 4 of the housin I is closed by an end wall 9 on which is mounted a suitable burner II. Fuel lines I2 conduct fuel to the burner I I from fuel containers I3 mounted on the top of. the housing I. The other end I4 of the combustion chamber 8 is open and is spaced inwardly from the exhaust opening I of said housing l.- The open end I4 of the combustion chamber 8 is smaller than the diameter of said exhaust opening I.

On the intake end wall 9 of the combustion chamber 8 are intake ports IS the openings of which are regulated by a suitable adjustable valve plate I1 ,which regulate the air intake into the combustion chamber 8. 4

A diffuser I8 is provided within the exhaust end 4 of the housing I. The diffuser I8, in the present illustration, is conical. The apex I9 of the conical diffuser I8 points toward and is spaced from the open end I4 of the combustion chamber 8. The base 2I of the diffuser I8 faces toward and is spaced inwardly from the exhaust opening I of the housing I. The sides of the conical diffuser I8 diverge oppositely tothe converging sides of the exhaust end 4 of the housing I. Thus the conical diffuser is positioned between the open end I4 of the combustion chamber 8 and exhaust opening 1' of the housing I, and it is in axial alignmentwith the combustion chamber 8. The general function of the diffuser I8 is to deflect the products of combustion issuing from the com bustion'chamber 8 generally outwardly for intermixing said products of combustion with the air flow through the housing I, and to determine the size of the passage of the mixture through the exhaust end 4 of the housing I. This in turn determines the velocity of flow through said outlet end 4 and correspondingly determines the temperature of a givenmixture in said flow.

For the purpose of constricting or expanding the passage between the difiuser'base 2I and the exhaust end 4 of the housing I, the position of the diffuser I8 is adjustable axially or longitudiexhaust end 4 of the housmg I. In the present illustration, four supporting spokes 22 extend from the diffuser I8. The outer 'ends of the spokes 22 are longitudinally slidable in longitudinal channel brackets 23 on the outside of the exhaust end 4 of th housing I." Each spoke 22 has an offset head 24 thereon outside of its channel 23. A bolt 26 extending through said offset head 24 is tightened. against thec hannel 23 to fasten the spoke 22 in adjusted position. The spokes 22 slidably extend through slots 25 in the walls of said exhaust end 4. The diffuser I8 is thus shifted to the desired spacing and then the bolts 26 are tightened to hold it in said adjusted position.

At the exhaust end 4 of the housing I is formed a secondary air chamber 21 which has circumferential-secondary air intakeports 28 adjacent and around the exhaust end 4. In aplenum chamber 29 communicating with said secondary air chamber 21 is a fan 3|. fan 3| is journalled in bearings 33 supported on suitable spokes 39 on the wall of said chambers 21 and 29. A suitable transmission36 transmits rotation to said fan shaft 32 from an engine or motor 31 mounted on the top of the housing I.

The plenum chamber 29 extends rearwardly and downwardly and terminates in lateral discharge conduits 38 generally below the, leve1 of the axis of. the housing, so as to discharge the heated air to opposite sidesfrom'the lower portion of the unit.

, In operation the fan 3| draws air through the housing I. A regulated amount of air is drawn into the combustion chamber 8. The primaryair flow cools the walls of the combustion chamber 8 and absorbs certainof the radiating heat-therefrom. The products of combustion issuing from thecombustion chamber 8 are directed outwardly by the difiuser l8 and are intimately intermixed with the primary air flow at the housing outlet 4 so as. to assure complete combustion and heat interchange. The velocity of outflow past the difi'user I 8 coacts with the suction of the fan 3| to draw in the'secondaryair supplythrough the intake ports 28 and the-heated mixture enters the plenum chamber 29-fromwhich it is blown out through the lateral discharge conduits 38.

As the unitis carried; on the carriage 2 through an orchard or-the like, a desired volume of suit.-

ably heated airis thus discharged at a comparatively lowlevel and as it spreads and risesit raises the temperature of the atmosphere without intothe crop. The complete, predetermined intermixture obviates soot and smoke yet efficiently conditions the atmosphere as desired.

I claim: 1.1a a portable crop heater of the character described; a housing, a portable carriage sup:- porting' said housing, an air inlet at'the forward end of'the housing, anoutlet at the rear end of the housing, a combustion chamber within said housing between said inlet and said outlet being spaced from said housing to form a primary air pass-age all around said combustion chamber, a secondary air chamber at said outlet having in let ports for drawing in a secondary airsupply, a diffuser device at said outlet to intermix'said products of combustion and theair flow from said primary air passage, generally lateral discharge conduitsleading from said secondary airchamher for discharging heated air into the atmosphere, and an aircirculating device to draw air through said primary passage and through said-"secondary" air chamber and to force the mixture: out through said lateral dischargeconduits.

2. In a portable crop heater of thecharacter described, ahousing; a portable carriage sup.- porting said. housing, an airinlet at the forward end of; the housing, an outlet. at the rear end of thehousing; a combustion. chamb r within said housing between; said inlet and said'outlet being spacedfrom said housing. to form aprimary. air

'passageall'around said combustion chamber; a

The shaft 32 of said.

secondary air chamber at said outlet having inlet ports for drawing in a secondary air supply, a diffuser device at said outlet to intermix said products of combustion and the air flow from said primary air passage, generally lateral discharge conduits leading from said secondary air chamber for discharging heated air into the atmosphere, and an air circulating device to draw air through said primary, passage and,throughisaidsecondary air chamberv andito force the mixture outrthrough said lateral discharge conduits, said diifuser device being aligned with said combustion chamber and directing the products of combustion generally outwardly toward the periphery of said outlet..

3. In a portable crop heater or the character describedha, housing. a P rta le carriage supporting said housing, an air inlet at the forward end" ofthe housing. an outlet at the rear end of the housing, a combustion chamber within said housing between: said inlet and said outlet being spaced from said housing to form a primary'air passage allaround saidicombustion, chamber, a secondary airchamberat said outlethaving'inlet ports for drawing in a secondary. air supply; a diffuser device at said outlet to intermixsaid products of'combustion andthepairfiow from said primary'air passage; generally lateral discharge conduits leading fromrsaidisecondary-air chamber for discharging heated air into the atmosphere, andan air. circulating device. to draw air through said primary passage and through saidsecondary air chamberand; to force the mixture: out through: said 1 lateral" dischargeaconduits; said" dirfuser device beingja-ligned with, said-.combustion chamber and directing; the: products of combuse tion'; generallyoutwardly toward; the: periphery of said.- outletr and means: to adjust. the.- distance a i llr'b tweena said: diifuser; device: and StridZSBC ondaryairchamben.

4; In a; portable: cr p heater: of; the character described; aihouisn s a-. portable; carriage: supporthis saidhousing; naininlet: ahthaforward-end of heshousins; arr-outlet at;;theirear;-end of: the housing, a: combustion: chamber.'withinzsaithhouse ine between. said:- inlet: and: said; outlet being paced; from. said; housing tdform; a: primary air p ssage all; around. said; combustion: chamber; a secondary air chamber-at, said. outlet having; in!- let ports; for; drawing in: a. selcon'dary air 311D p y. difiuser: device; at said outlet to" in.- rmix said products-of: combustion andthe air now from said: primary air passage, generally lateral discharge conduits-,leading from saidsecondary air chamberfor discharging heated air into the i atmosphere, and an air circulating deviceto draw air; through; said primary passage and, throu h said secondary air. chamber, and. to force the mixture out throughsaid lateral. dis-,- charge conduits; said; combustion chamber discharging toward saidadiifuser device; and the walls:.of said. difluser. device diverging, outwardly away from, said. combustion. chamber-r 5. In a portable crop heater of the character described, a housing; aporta-ble carriagessupportmg, said,- housing, an; air inlet-at ,the-forwardend of; the; housing, an. outlet, at:the rear end of: the housing. a. combustioachamber-withinsaidhousr n ;-between said, inlet. and. said; outlet bein naced; fromsaid hous n to form. a. primary, air passage allv around said; combustion.- chamber. a secondarr a irchamberatsaid. outlet-havin inlet ports for drawing in a secondary air supply, a difiuser; device: at:v saidii outlet to Intermix.- said Pnoductsbrcombustionandrthaainflcwrromsaid primary air passage, generally lateral discharge conduits leading from said secondary air chamber for discharging heated air into the atmosphere, and a blower device in said secondary air chamber for drawing air through said primary air passage and through said secondary air chamber and blowing the mixture out through said lateral discharge conduits.

6. In a portable crop heater of the character described, a housing, a portable carriage supporting said housing, an air inlet at the forward end of the housing, an outlet at the rear end of the housing, a combustion chamber within said housing between said inlet and said outlet being said secondary air chamber and to force the mixture out through said lateral discharge conduits, said diffuser device including a substantially conical element axially aligned with said combustion chamber and positioned with its apex pointing toward said combustion chamber;

'7. In a portable crop heater of the character described, a housing, a portable carriage for carrying said housing, an inlet and an outlet on said housing, a combustion chamber in said housing spaced from the walls of said housing'and' discharging products of combustion toward said outlet, a secondary air chamber 'at said outlet having secondary air inlets, lateral discharge conduits leading from said secondary air chamber to opposite sides of the lower portion of said secondary air chamber, a blower in said secondary air chamber for drawing air through said housing and said chamber and to blow the mixed air out through said discharge conduits, and a diffuser element between said blower and said combustion chamber to direct the products of combustion and the air from said housing gener ally outwardly and toward said secondary air chamber. 7

8. In a portable crop heater of the character described, a housing, a portable carriage "for carrying said housing, an inlet and an outlet on outlet, a secondary air chamber at said outlet having secondary air inlets, lateral discharge conduits leading from said secondary air chamber to opposite sides of the lower portion of said secondary air chamber, a blower in said secondaryv air chamber for drawing air through said housing and said chamber and to blow the mixed air out through said discharge conduits. and a diffuser, element between said blower and said combustion chamber to direct the products of combustion and th air from said housing generally outwardly and toward said secondary air chamber, generally inwardly inclined walls constricting said outlet relatively to said housing.

said diffusing device having outwardly inclined.

walls to deflect the products of combustion toward said outlet walls for intermixture with the air flow through said housing. I

'9. In a portable crop heater of the character described, a housing, a portable carriage for carrying said housing, an inlet and anoutleton said housing, a combustion chamber in said housing spaced from the walls of said housing and discharging products of combustion toward said outlet, a secondary air chamber at said outlet having secondary air inlets, lateral dis- }charge conduits leading from said secondary air chamber to opposite sides of the lower portion of said secondary air chamber, a blower in said secondary air chamber for drawing air through said housing and said chamber and to blow the mixed air out through said discharg conduits. and a diffuser element between said blower and said combustion chamber to direct the products of combustion and the air from said housing gen- 1 erally outwardly and toward said secondary air chamber, generally inwardly inclined walls constricting said outlet relatively to said housing. said diffusing device having outwardly inclined walls to deflect the products of combustion to- :ward said outlet walls for intermixture with the 'air: flow through said housing, adjustable air ports on said combustion chamber, and adjustable means connected to said diffuser element for setting the position of said difiuser element to .a selected position in said outlet to determine said housing, a combustion chamber in said housing spaced from the walls of said housing and discharging products of combustion toward said flow through said outlet. WILLIAM R. FOWLER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name the velocity of air Number Date Reader Feb. .24, 1931' 

